Determination to keep God's word

Posted : 20 Apr, 2013 02:24 AM

Psalm 119:59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet to Your testimonies.





The Psalmist's determination, lately mentioned, to keep God's

word, was not a hasty impulse, but a considerate resolve, the

result of much thinking on his former ways of sin and folly.

How many, on the other hand, seem to pass through the

world into eternity without a serious thought on their ways!

Multitudes live for the world-forget God and die! This is their

history. What their state is, is written as with a sunbeam in the

word of truth-"The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the

nations that forget God." When "no man repents him of his

wickedness, saying, What have I done?"-this banishing of

reflection is the character and ruin of an unthinking world.

Perhaps one serious thought might be the new birth of the

soul to God-the first step of the way to heaven. For when a

man is arrested by the power of grace, he is as one awaking

out of sleep, lost in solemn and serious thoughts-'What am I?

where am I? what have I been? what have I been doing? I

have a soul, which is my everlasting all-yet a soul without a

Savior-lost-undone. What is my prospect for its happiness?

Behind me is a world of vanity, an empty void. Before me a

fearful unknown eternity. Within me an awakened conscience,

to remind me of an angry God, and a devouring hell. If I stay

here, I perish; if I go forward, I perish; if I return home to my

offended Father, I can but perish.' The resolution is formed; '"I

will arise," and fight my way through all difficulties and

discouragements to my Father's house.' Thus does every

prodigal child of God "come to himself;" and this his first step

of return to his God involves the whole work of repentance.

The wanderer thinks on his ways, and turns his feet to the

testimonies of his God; witnessing, to his joyful surprise, every

hindrance removed, the way marked with the blood of his

Savior, and his Father's smiles in this way welcoming his

return homeward. This turn is the practical exercise of a

genuine faith; and "because he considers, and turns away from all his transgressions that he has committed, he shall

surely live-he shall not die."

But this considerate exercise is needed, not only upon the first

entrance into the ways of God, but in every successive step of

our path. It will form the habit of daily "communion with our

own heart;" without which, disorder and confusion will

bewilder our steps. Probably David did not know how far his

feet had backslidden from the ways of his God, until this

serious consideration of his state brought conviction to his

soul-so imperceptible is the declining of the heart from God!

Nor is it a few transient thoughts or resolutions, that will effect

this turn of the heart to God. A man may maintain a fruitless

struggle to return to God for many years in sincerity and

earnestness; while the simple act of faith in the power and

love of Jesus will at once bring him back. Thus, while "thinking

on his ways," let him walk in Christ as the way of return-and

he will walk in the way of God's testimonies with acceptance

and delight. In this spirit of simplicity, he will listen to the first

whisper of the convincing voice of the Spirit, which marks the

early steps of return from secret declension from God. He will

also thankfully accept the chastening rod, as the Lord's

appointed instrument of restoring His wandering children to

Himself. For so prone are they to turn their feet away from the

Lord-so continually are they "turning aside like a deceitful

bow."-and so deaf are they, from the constitution of their sinful

nature, to the ordinary calls of God; that, in love and tender

faithfulness to their souls, He is often constrained, by the

stroke of His heavy hand, to arrest them in their career of

thoughtlessness, and turn them back to Himself. Most suitable

then for such a state is the prayer of Basil-'Give me any cross,

that may bring me into subjection to Your cross; and save me

in spite of myself!'



by

Charles Bridges

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